Eden Gallery Adds Colour To London’s Art Scene With Its Reimagining of the Private View

Eden’s latest show featuring Dorit Levinstein and Yoel Benharrouche is full of the joys of spring

Words Isabel O’Brien

What do the words ‘private view’ mean to you? In all likelihood, they conjure up a vision of an inoffensive white-walled space adorned with artworks, filled with the sound of clinking champagne glasses and polite small talk.

Not so Eden Fine Art Gallery’s upcoming project ‘The Garden of Eden’, an exhibition poised to electrify your senses with its reimagining of the art preview format. Showcasing works exploring the relationship between art and spirituality by rising-star Israeli artists Yoel Benharrouche and sculptor Dorit Levinstein, the 12,000 feet gallery will be transformed into a (fittingly) biblical oasis, complete with handcrafted foliage displays, a live DJ set, and unique performances from artists such as The Grime Violinist.

Opening 14 March, the visually and audibly immersive setting targets a young, dynamic art crowd who seek a more multifaceted experience from cultural events. Here, the landscape is as integral to the show as the pieces themselves, a bright and contemporary space that will pop both in real time and in front of the camera.

The hashtag #Edenlive will transport the evening into the virtual sphere, with visitors encouraged to share the show’s content on social media. The gallery states, “As part of a robust and holistic approach to the art market, social media is an increasingly important part of an exhibition cycle for the gallery. Not only as a tool to share content but to build true authentic interest.”

“As part of a robust and holistic approach to the art market, social media is an increasingly important part of an exhibition cycle for the gallery. Not only as a tool to share content but to build true authentic interest.”

Against a backdrop of ‘living trees’, the works of Levinstein and painter Benharrouche find a vibrant synergy in colour and narrative, positioning them as an exciting coupling to be enjoyed both live and digitally. From their dynamic use of line to their exploration of the female form, the respective artworks bring an unadulterated joy to their exploration of the biblical garden.

Yoel Benharrouche

Yoel Benharrouche

Benharrouche, who hails from the south of France, is heavily influenced by masters such as Chagall, Picasso and Miro. Working with acrylic on canvas, his signature style consists of block colours, interesting forms, and curved shapes. Many of these are distinctly female, ethereal representations that are interspersed with musical and natural iconography — figures that undoubtedly exhibit an awareness of the audiences’ gaze upon them.

Dorit Levinstein

Dorit Levinstein

Similarly, Levinstein, who trained as a painter at the Avni Institute of Art and Design before moving into sculpture at age 32, uses lines and playful patterns to speak to the observer of her work — teasing her audience much like the snake goading Eve to succumb to the forbidden fruit — the dynamic figures painted in vivid colours, creating rhythmic patterns that regularly repeat themselves, like variations on a well-loved tune.

The duos’ narrative aligns in a shared belief in spiritually, and their close connections to Judaism. “My paintings translate my inner world and are inseparable from my spiritual life,” says Benharrouche. His aim is to create compositions with strength and harmony, which explore the historical and spiritual world of Israel.

Levinstein, whose sculptures take the form of human figures, animals and flowers, sees a strong sense of vitality as being integral to her work. “There’s a magical moment when the artwork starts to come alive and take the lead,” she says.

Yoel Benharrouche

With the majority of Instagram users falling into 18-29 age bracket, exhibitions like The Garden of Eden are vital in leveraging fresh engagement from new-gen art lovers. Transporting art openings into the newsfeeds of guests lifts the lid on the private view experience, shedding the veil of exclusivity, while online exposure connects featured artists with a global audience.

Art, music, landscape design and performance all playing out in conjuncture? It’s the private view of the future.